Posts Tagged ‘Herbie Mann’

Bob Babbitt was a Pittsburgh-born journeyman bassist who can rightfully claim to have played on more than 25 gold and platinum albums along with over 200 top 10 hits. As part of the legendary Motown house band known as the Funk Brothers from 1966 to 1972, Babbitt can be heard playing on such timeless classics as Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” the Temptations‘ “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me),” Edwin Starr’s “War,” and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles‘ “The Tears Of A Clown” to name just a few. Prior to his stint at Motown, Babbitt played on several Del Shannon records, including “Little Town Flirt” and “I Go To Pieces.” Following his run at Motown, Babbitt continued his hit-record contributions as part of Philadelphia International Records’ answer to the Funk Brothers, MFSB. Within that capacity, for instance, he played on several hits by the Spinners. Babbitt also recorded or performed live with such superstars as Jimi Hendrix, Phil Collins, Jim Croce, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, and Bonnie Raitt. During the ’80s, he played on several prominent commercial jingles and even dabbled in jazz with Herbie Mann and Stanley Turrentine. In 2002, he was profiled in the award-winning Funk Brothers documentary, Standing In The Shadows Of Motown. In March of 2011, Babbitt made his last television appearance with Jacob Lusk during American Idol’s Motown Week. Bob Babbitt died of brain cancer on July 16, 2012. He was 74.

Chris Connor was a jazz vocalist who moved to New York City in 1948 to broaden her career beyond the night clubs of Kansas City where she was raised. Her first significant job came when she was hired by Claude Thornhill to sing in his vocal group, the Snowflakes. She toured and recorded with Thornhill until 1952, and about a year later found herself singing in Stan Kenton’s band. With Kenton, she finally hit the Billboard charts, singing on such songs as “And The Bull Walked Around, Ole,” “All About Ronnie” and “Jeepers Creepers.” Connor left Kenton in 1953 for a solo career, signing to Atlantic Records in 1956. At Atlantic, she worked with the likes of Herbie Mann, Zoot Sims and Doc Severinson. Connor continued to record until her 2003 album, Everything I Love. She died of cancer in a New Jersey hospital at the age of 81.

Jack Nimitz began playing the saxophone while a teenager in Washington DC. Throughout the ’50s, he played with such jazz greats as Woody Herman, Herbie Mann and Stan Getz. During the ’60s, Nimitz moved to Los Angeles to do film session work and continued to play with a who’s who list of West Coast jazz greats. During the ’70s, he played with a popular Charlie Parkertribute band called Supersax. Jack Nimitz died of emphysema at the age of 79.